South Africa Road Trip with Baby – Hermanus to Cape Town

Julie

2025-03-23

South Africa Road Trip with Baby – Hermanus to Cape Town

On our South Africa road trip with baby, we left Hermanus for Cape Town, stopping for cake, ocean views, and a chance at spotting penguins.

1. Main Journey

We woke up early in Hermanus on Day 77 of our world trip with Sweetie.
I’d made some chicken porridge the night before, and at 6:30am, while the sky was still dark, we warmed it up and gently woke her.

Even half-asleep, Sweetie finished a full bowl—she loves chicken porridge. There’s something incredibly comforting about feeding your baby something warm and homemade before a long drive.

We hit the road at 7am. The air was crisp, somewhere between 12 and 16°C, and the sky was perfectly clear.
As we left town, cute whale statues greeted us on every corner—a reminder that Hermanus is one of the world’s best whale-watching destinations.

The town was still sleeping, but the waves weren’t. As the sound of crashing surf filled the air, we chased whale-watching points along the coast…
But, no luck.

Just like the day before—no whales.
We scanned the sea, checked the signs, but the ocean gave us nothing but her waves.
Still, I couldn’t be too disappointed. The sea was beautiful. And honestly, it felt like the whales were just on a break.

2. Events

With the dream of spotting whales left behind, we continued our road trip toward Cape Town—our final stop along South Africa’s stunning southern coastline.

It’s about 120km from Hermanus to Cape Town, and the drive usually takes a little over two hours.
But here’s the thing—I miscalculated. We only had one full day in Cape Town. That city deserves a week at least, but all we had was today. My heart started racing a bit.

So we drove with purpose—passing through winding mountain roads, and eventually, a coastal highway where the ocean ran parallel to the train tracks.
We saw the city from a distance—Cape Town’s outline rising beneath Table Mountain. It looked powerful, even from far away.

We arrived by mid-morning and made a quick stop at a patisserie before heading toward Cape Point.

The Sweetest Thing Patisserie—even the name made us smile.
The inside was surprisingly spacious and charming, with mostly older Western tourists sitting quietly over coffee and cake.

We asked the staff what their signature was.
She pointed to… multigrain bread. Not quite what we were craving.

So we picked a white chocolate cake instead—sweet, creamy, soft but with little surprises of flavor.
It was better than we expected. That cake turned into a little moment of stillness—Sweetie giggling between bites, Julie sipping coffee, the three of us just… slowing down.

As we drove out again, toward Boulders Beach, we spotted a road sign that made us all laugh—
A warning for… penguins.

I wanted to shout:

“Penguin! Come out and say hi!”

But instead, I just drove slowly. Carefully.
Because when you’re heading toward penguins in Africa, you take your time.

3. Tips for Traveling with a Baby

Prepare breakfast the night before if you’ve got an early departure.
Heating up Sweetie’s favorite chicken porridge helped us start the day calmly. No rushed meals = no morning meltdowns.
Wake your baby gently and give them familiar food.
Even though we had to wake her before sunrise, Sweetie was comforted by the warm porridge she knows and loves.
Don’t count on wildlife sightings.
We tried so hard to see whales in Hermanus. Sometimes nature just doesn’t deliver—but that’s okay. Just showing Sweetie the sea was still special.
Take breaks in cozy cafés.
The Sweetest Thing wasn’t on our original list, but finding a quiet spot to rest and treat ourselves really made a difference in the day.

4. Local Travel Tips

Hermanus to Cape Town is a doable drive, but start early.
The drive takes about 2 hours. Give yourself extra time for scenic stops and city traffic.
For whale watching in Hermanus, timing matters.
June is early in the season. August to October is more reliable.
The Sweetest Thing Patisserie (Simon’s Town)
A cute and quiet place for cake and coffee. White chocolate cake was a win. Expect a chill vibe with mostly older tourists.
Watch for penguin signs as you approach Boulders Beach.
It’s not just cute—it’s real! Penguins often cross the road, so keep an eye out and drive carefully.

5. Travel Reflections

There are days on this journey where things feel rushed, and Day 77 was one of them.
We had so little time for such a big city like Cape Town, and that pressure crept into my mind early.

But then something small would happen—a good bite of cake, Sweetie’s sleepy smile after porridge, a penguin sign on the road—and everything slowed down again.

Even though we didn’t see whales, even though we had just one day for Cape Town, I’m glad we took the long way.
Because sometimes it’s not about what you see—it’s about how you feel in the moment.

And today?
It felt like a gentle, sweet chapter in our big journey with Sweetie.